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SABA TERRESTRIAL PARK

The island of Saba forms part of the inner arc of islands stretching between the Virgin Islands and Venezuela and are all of volcanic origin. Saba is about 13 square kilometer (5 square miles) in area with the 877 meters (2877 feet) high Mount Scenery as its highest elevation. The slopes of the peaks and domes are steep, in places exceeding 60 degrees or even nearly perpendicular. Several fairly straight to slightly curved, V- or U-shaped, steep-sided valleys or ravines (locally called guts) run down the slopes of the mountain. Some small, fairly level plateaus can be found. The largest ones are the valleys of The Bottom and Flat Point, where the landing strip of the airport is situated.

The Saba Terrestrial Park is on the north side of Saba and covers an area of 43 hectares (100 acres). It stretches from the airport to the All Too Far ridge at sea level, tapering off narrowly to the top of Mount Scenery.

PARK FACTS AND HISTORYThe Park encompasses the land formerly owned by the McNish Sulphur Mining Company. The Company bought the land in 1875 to obtain mining rights to the sulfur deposits. However, the mining operation eventually proved unprofitable and was discontinued in 1915.

In 1998, the land was donated to the Saba Conservation Founda-tion by Mrs. Muriel Thissell Murphy, who was the only heir to the property, on the condition that the land would forever remain wild and be preserved as a national park.

PARK FEATURESThe most important feature of the Saba Terrestrial Park is that all vegetation types occurring on Saba, from near-desert vegetation to moist tropical forest, are within reach of the visitor on a single visit. The vegetation of Saba is related to altitude and humidity. Clouds often cover the top of Mount Scenery, resulting in cloud forest-like vegetation. Downwards in a belt with plenty of rainfall, rainforest-like vegetation is present. Lower on the slopes the hu-midity decreases and the vegetation gradually becomes more dry. The plant species range from evergreen (not losing their leaves) to deciduous (seasonal losing of leaves), or hard-leaved evergreen.

You can observe rich marine life on the seashore and abundant seabird life above, including Red-billed Tropicbirds, of which Saba has the largest breeding population in the entire Caribbean.

ACCESSThere are three ways to access the Saba Terrestrial Park:• At the end of the road to the former Gate House Hotel in Lower

Hell’s Gate at the at the North Coast trailhead.• At the end of the road in Upper Hell’s Gate from the Sandy Cruz

trailhead.• From the Sandy Cruz trail, when starting from Troy Hill, the trail

will lead you through the park.

HIKING TRAILS

The park features three hiking trails, each offering a completely different experience:

Sulfur Mine Trail. This trail offers spectacular views of the airport and Green Island. From the trailhead it leads to the old sulfur oven, where you can enjoy watching the birds. It is not recommended that you enter the mine itself.Hiking time from trailhead in Lower Hell’s Gate: 40 minutes one-way.Difficulty: Moderate.

Sandy Cruz Trail. Access from the trailhead in Upper Hell’s Gate. This trail continues beyond the park boundary to Troy Hill. It features abandoned farm-land, secondary and primary rainforest and spectacular views.Hiking time to junction with All Too Far trail: 25 minutes one-way. From there about 2 hours more to Troy Hill.Difficulty: Moderate.

All Too Far Trail. This trail connects the Sulfur Mine Trail with the Sandy Cruz Trail. It features a nice transition from dry forest to rainforest and, again, spectacular views.Hiking time: 120 minutes, going uphill from the Sulfur Mine Trail, 90 minutes going down from the Sandy Cruz Trail. Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous.

A hike through the entire park, from the trailhead in Lower Hell’s Gate with a side trip to the Sulfur Mine, going up the All Too Far Trail, and returning along the Sandy Cruz Trail to the trailhead in Upper Hell’s gate will take about 3 to 3.5 hours. In reverse direc-tion it will take 2.5 to 3 hours.

INFORMATION AND GUIDE SERVICEFor safety purposes, please register at the Saba Trail Shop in the Windwardside before going out on a hike. The Trail Shop can also assist you with information on current trail conditions, hiking sticks, excursions and guide services. Information panels are located at the Trail Shop and at the trail-heads in Lower and Upper Hell’s Gate (Zion’s Hill).

PARK RULESThe park is a ‘no take’ and ‘no disturbance’ area. Please take litter with you when leaving the park. Please help us maintain the park by picking up any litter you see on the trails.

NATURE FEE AND DONATINGA nature fee is requested for park maintenance. Please go to the Trail Shop for more information and your ‘Nature tag’ that identifies you as a contributor. The Saba’s Terrestrial Park and the Saba Conservation Foundation can only exist thanks to fees and donations from our visitors. Learn more about our donation possibilities and our Donor Recognition Program at the Trail Shop and at www.sabapark.org

VEGETATION IN SABA’S TERRESTRIAL PARK

1. Top of Mount Scenery. Very rich species and dense vegetation covers the top of Mt. Scenery and the upper part of the slope. Mountain Cabbage (Prestoea montana) is the most common tree. Heliconia bihai, Tree ferns (Cyathea spp.) and Piper dilatatum are the larger species, while Begonia retusa and Pilea obtusata are the smaller ones. Elephant Ears (Philodendron giganteum) are very prominent in all layers of the vegetation. Orchids are often present, and many different species of ferns can be found. Liverworts cover stems and branches of the trees. The low cover and height of the trees is a result from severe disturbances by hurricanes, especially Hurricane Georges in 1998.

2. Just below the top, but still high on the mountain. The tree layer is very open. Again Mountain Cabbage (Prestoea Montana) is present, but also Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum) and different species of ferns (Cyathea) can be seen. Elephant Ears (Philodendron giganteum) grow in the shrub and herb layer, with much Heliconia bihai as well. Compared to the vegetation on the top of Mount Scenery fewer species of ferns are found, though more climbers and vines like Ipomoea tiliacea and epiphytic Bromeliaceae are conspicuous features.

3. The higher hilltops around Mt. Scenery. The dense tree and shrub layer sometimes is combined into one continuous layer. The climbing Elephant Ears (Philodendron giganteum) occur every-where, but also Heliconia bihai and Mountain Cabbage (Prestoea Montana) are still found, although Tree ferns are lacking. Surinam cherries (Myrcia splendens) and Cordia sulcata start to become part of the vegetation at these altitudes. Due to the relatively high humidity, ferns and mosses do still occur.

4. Lower on the slopes. This fairly tall vegetation usually shows no distinction between the tree and shrub layer. The average cover and number of species are considerably less than that of the vegetation higher on Mt. Scenery. Coccoloba swartzii and Velvet seed (Guettarda scabra) are wild tree species. Soursop (Annona muricata) is an example of a fruit tree now growing wild. Vines, climbers and ferns become scarce. Bromeliaceae are present.

5. Meadows. Grassy meadows with scattered shrubs are mainly found on the lowest southern and eastern slopes of Saba. This little patch to the north-east of the old sulfur mine differs from the other meadows in species-composition. The grass Botriochloa pertusa is most abundant. The shrubs Yellow Balsam (Croton flavens) and Wild Allamanda (Urechites lutea) occur scattered.

6. Cliffs. Steep cliffs mark Saba´s coastline. The cliff in the Park is a mostly barren slope, partly rubble and partly rocky. A very scarce cover with the grass Aristida adscencionis and shrub Yellow Balsam (Croton flavens) can be seen.

WINDWARDSIDETHE BOTTOM

Saba Terrestrial Park

Saba Island Map